Rail-joint.



PATENTED AUG. 7, 1906. NN.

G. H. MARSHALL & G. L. DU

RAIL JOINT. APPLICATION FILED APR.12,1906.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFTOE.

GEORGE H. MARSHALL AND CHARLES L. DUNN, OF ST. JOHNS, MICHIGAN.

RAIL-JOINT.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. '7, 1906.

Application filed April 12,1906. Serial No. 311,221.

To (LU-whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, GEORGE H. MAR- SHALL and CHARLES L. DUNN, citizensof the I United States, residing at St. Johns, in the county of Clintonand State of Michigan, have invented new and useful Improvements inRail-Joints, of which the following is a specification.

This invention is an improvement on the rail-joint shown and claimed inour United States Patent No. 816,671.

The object of the present invention is to strengthen the oint byproviding lugs 011 the members of the joint to fit in the bolt-holes inthe web of the rails.

A further object of the invention is to strengthen the joint by forminglugs on the members which fit in the usual spike-notches formed in theedges of the base of the rail.

A further object of the invention is to add to the parts shown in thesaid patent a spacing plate or piece which fits between the adjacentends of said parts and covers the joint. One of these pieces is used oneach side.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of the joint.Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the oint-pieces detached and removed fromthe rails. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the joint-pieces detachedfrom each other. Fig. 4is a plan view of one of the rail ends. Figs. 5and 6 are details in end and inside elevation of the spacing-piece whichfits between the adjacent ends of the j oint-pieces.

The main pieces of the joint are substantially the same as those shownin the abovementioned patent, comprising two members, each of which hasfish-plates or blocks 6 connected by an intermediate portion 7, which ishalved and lapped over the corresponding portion of the other memberafter the manner of a pair of shears, the blocks 6 of each member beingoffset so that they fit against opposite sides of the meeting ends ofthe rails. These members are applied to the meeting ends of the railsand swung or closed to bring the fish-plates or blocks against the sidesof the rails, where they are held by spikes 8 in the ties 9, theconnecting'parts 7 forming a bridge under the oint of the rails, so asto support the rail ends.

One of the features forming the present 1n venticn consists of lugs 10,formed on the inside of the plates 6 and so located that the lug of oneplate will project into one of the ordinary bolt-holes of a rail and theother lug will project into another of said holes. When the rail-jointis applied and closed upon the meeting ends of the rails, these lugsenter the said bolt-holes and assist in holding the parts together. Theyprevent any endwlse or longitudinal separation of the rails and formstays preventing creeping of the rails.

Another feature of the present invention 1s the provision of square lugs11, which project inwardly'from the base of the plates 6 in properposition to enter notches 12, made in the base of rails. There is one ofthese lugs on each plate 6, and they assist in the holding effectreferred to above.

A further feature of the present invention is the provision of a spacingplate or piece 13, which is of proper Width to fit snugly between theadjacent ends of the pieces 6 when said pieces are closed to lock thejoint. There is one of these pieces 13 on each side. They are shaped tofit or rest upon the base of the rail and against the web thereof andare held in place by a single bolt 14:, extending therethroug-h. Theseplates 13 serve to support and confine the meeting ends of the rails.They also serve to prevent spread or opening of the main pieces 6, andform a substantially continuous fish-plate extending across the joint.In order to open the joint, as shown in Fig. 2, it is necessary that themembers 6 be swung outwardly, and obviously this is impossible so longas the plate 13 remains in place. The plate therefore assists the spikes8 in holding the joint closed or locked.

The particular shape of the fish-plates .or members 6 is immaterial, andinstead of having the straight inner face. as shown, which contactsagainst the web of the rail they may be slightly concave or dished,similar to what is known as the standard spliced bar.

We claim 1'. The combination with rail ends having recesses therein, oftwo joint members each of which comprises plates having connectionswhich are crossed under the rail ends, to bring the plates on oppositesides of the rails, and said plates also having projections which engagein said recesses.

2. The combination with two abutting rail ends having holes in the websthereof, of two ra1l-joint members connecting said ends, each memberhaving a plate on one side of one rail end and another plate on theopposite side of the other rail end, said plates havrail ends and alsohaving lugs which project into said holes.

3. The combination With rail ends having notches in the edges of thebase thereof, of

plates 011 opposite sides of the ends ha ing crossed connectionsextending under said ends, and lugs which project into said notches.

4. A rail-joint comprising two members which are crossed under the rail,each mem-' which are crossed under the rail, each mem I 5 her havingplates which fit against the rail- Web on opposite sides thereof, andspacingplates which are secured to the rail between the adjacent ends ofthe said plates on each side thereof.

In testimony whereof we have signed our names to this specification inthe presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

GEORGE HQMARSHALL. CHARLES L. DUNN.

Witnesses:

THEODORE H. TOWNSEND, CLARK A. PUTT.

